只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 in English zhi3 yao4 gong1 fu5 shen1 , tie3 chu3 mo2 cheng2 zhen1 Meaning

Meanings

• If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.
• cf idiomatic expression 磨杵成針|磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiomatic expression); metaphorically to persevere in a difficult task
• to study diligently

Pinyin

zhi3 yao4 gong1 fu5 shen1 , tie3 chu3 mo2 cheng2 zhen1

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

只zhi3only 要yao4to demand 功gong1meritorious deed or service 夫fu1husband 深shen1old variant of 深[shen1] ， 铁tie3surname Tie 杵chu3pestle 磨mo2to rub 成cheng2surname Cheng 针zhen1needle